Thanks to my Amazon Kindle, I’m an avid reader of ebooks. My e-reading falls into two categories: books or PDFs I read for work and pleasure reading. Either way, I want my reading to be a pleasant experience that doesn’t strain my eyes. Think of all the other ways that screens have permeated our lives: watching a Netflix movie on a tablet, late night browsing, or the infamous middle of the night Instagram check.

That is why I am thrilled with the BenQ E-Reading Lamp. This lamp is sizable enough to cover a large area with light but has a slim line to it. The sleek design is adjustable, so if you are doing intricate work (like beading or digital editing), you can focus the light on your work.

With just a tap on the ring, the lamp switches between warm white light and cool white light. Much like the Night Setting on tablets, this adjusts the light for the time of day and the activity in which you are engaging. This is a really nice feature, as most lamps just have one setting, but this lamp takes in the “human factor”. It also responds to the ambient light and adjusts accordingly.

Some might question the price of this lamp. Considering how much computing affects vision, I think the price is quite reasonable compared to worsening vision and the associated risks of long hours at the computer, including headaches due to flicker or glare. Additionally, lack of proper lighting when using computers or tablets can lead to bad posture, which can cause a whole slew of health issues. So this lamp is priced quite reasonably when you consider the cost to health. Additionally, the price is competitive with other lamps with such a sleek design.

I plan on buying another one to put in my office on my desk. I really am thrilled to have discovered this lamp.

I have a friend whose office always smells like a Spring day. She’s an artist who has paints in her office that decidedly do not smell like a Spring Day. When I asked her about this, she pointed to the Himalayan Salt Lamp on her desk.

The theory is that Himalayan Salt Lamp produce negative ions that give off that lovely smell you experience after a rainstorm. Unlike the Negative Ion Towers you find at gadget stores, Himalayan Salt Lamps require zero upkeep and produce a soothing light.

Himalayan Salt Solution’s Salt Lamp produces a beautiful pinkish-amber glow. It’s not bright enough to light up a whole room, but it is enough light for an at-home spa, or to add a beautiful glow to a room at night when you are winding down. It does add a nice freshness to the room, although this size lamp won’t freshen up a large room. But it certainly gives my desk area a pleasant scent.

The lamp comes with an extra bulb, which is nice. Instead of just having an on/off switch, it has an adjustable dimmer. The cord is a generous 6 feet, which gives you the ability to place it optimally. It really is a lovely piece.

You will notice small flecks of salt that come off of the piece. This is normal, and in fact, a sign that this is a high-quality piece of Himalayan Salt. It’s not a problem, just something to be aware of.

I received this product at a discount in exchange for testing and review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below, and I’ll do my best to answer it!

A vital component to any vanity table is the tabletop swivel mirror. But not just any mirror. It must be a true and clear reflection. It must have a regular side for makeup application and a magnifying side for eyebrow tweezing and other close-ups. And ideally, it should look aesthetically pleasing on your vanity table. Modern, sleek, stylish and classic.

The Oak Leaf Tabletop Swivel Makeup mirror is a two-sided mirror with a 5x magnification side for close-up work, and a regular side mirror. Very useful for fine detail work such as eyebrow grooming and tweezing, applying false eyelashes or detailed eyeliner work, or examining the pores of the skin, the magnification side is very helpful for grooming. I like using the magnification side for when I apply retinol or Vitamin C serums so that I can better view skin problems that may not be otherwise as visible to the naked eye. The regular mirror side is clear and even without a warped reflection, very suitable for both men and women for shaving, grooming, skincare treatments and of course, makeup application. I like that I can tilt it in just the right position (about 75-degree angle back, away from my eye) while I apply liquid eyeliner and mascara to my top lashes.

The Chrome finish gives a clean, modern yet classic look to the mirror, and serves the purpose of protecting the mirror from moisture and condensation. The chrome makes it very suitable for use a bathroom vanity or countertop mirror as it will resist corrosion from the steam of hot showers.

CONSTRUCTION
The actual assembly of the mirror is simple, and it comes with a small tool to help secure the fittings. The swivel mechanism moves effortlessly and is firmly secured. The base is solid brass with a hand-polished chrome overlay that gives a high, sleek shine. It is not rickety and feels like a more expensive piece.

The mirror comes not entirely assembled. At first, I was less than thrilled about this, but assembly is simple, and it turns out I prefer that the mirror was not preassembled once I realized that if it were already assembled, it probably would not arrive in as good a condition as it did when I received the mirror. Not fully assembled allowed for packing each piece very well with no scratches. Even if you are not terribly handy, this is very easy to assemble.

CONCLUSION: Well worth the price, this mirror has a classic, sleek look that would compliment the decor of many bathrooms and vanity tables. The easy to use swivel base is very helpful for shaving, makeup application, and skin care needs.

I am a huge fan of jewel tones. Rich, vibrant, saturated jewel tones. This is one of the reasons I love this small mirror from NOVICA.

“Purple Summer Garden” is an intricate and whimsical piece. It employs the reverse painted glass technique where the design is painted in reverse on the back of the glass and then displayed from the front. This technique makes the colors seem more vibrant, combining the visual qualities of painting and stained glass.

I find the versatility of this piece fascinating. I recently moved some art out of my office as we’re in the middle of construction and I didn’t want anything to get accidentally damaged. As I looked around at the bare walls I started considering a décor reboot and wondered if Purple Summer Garden would fit in somewhere. I realized that it would work with any direction I chose to go, as the colors fit with both lighter and darker schemes. While the purples and coppers are deep and saturated like autumn colors, they also take on the beautiful colors of a summer sunset. It wasn’t until I realized that did I recognize how well named this piece is: it truly is reminiscent of a Summer Garden under the August sunlight as it ebbs towards twilight. Light blue dragonflies dance around the blossoms surrounding a clear and true diamond shaped mirror.

The back has a sturdy hook to securely hang the item and comes with the artist’s story and his thoughts on the piece in a lovely NOVICA booklet.

This is indeed a small piece: it is a 10”x8” frame surrounding the 5.25”x3.7” mirror. So while this isn’t going to replace your bathroom mirror, it is an incredible and eye-catching piece that draws people in. My biggest problem with this mirror is that people are so captivated by it that they inevitably touch the glass – so you may have to clean some fingerprints off of it every once in awhile! But that is a small price to pay for a piece that garners so much attention.

The artist, Gelacio Giron, is located in Peru and trained as an accountant, and started pursuing his craft during school. He enjoys sharing Peruvian artistry with the world through NOVICA, and enjoys the thought that you and I are decorating our homes with his pieces. He works with his brothers in his workshop to bring us his stunning works.

I received this item at a discount for testing and unbiased review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below and I’ll do my best to answer it!

Are you looking for a showstopper of a decorating piece? NOVICA’s ‘Cuzco Sun’ Bronze Leaf Round Starburst Wall Mirror is your shining answer.

This gorgeous 18” mirror comes from Peru and is made of Mohena Wood, a Peruvian hardwood, and is intricately covered in bronze leaf. One of the things I love about this mirror is that the bronze leaf is a definite bronze color with indirect natural daylight, but takes on the most beautiful gold color at sunset, just as the sun does itself. The artist has truly made a study of light!

I chose to put it on the mantle above the Living Room fireplace as we have other bronze items around the fire and because the vibrant color of the piece is so striking against the dark wood. The mirror would look good against any background, but I think the depth of the detail especially lends itself towards a darker, richer wood background. It was a bit of a toss up for me between the Living Room and the smaller Dining Room fireplace mantle, but the grain of the wood in the Living Room and the grain of the Mohena Wood looked sharper to me.

The mirror itself is 7.8” but appears larger. It is an exceptionally true mirror and shines vividly. If you are looking for a central vanity mirror you might want to look for a piece that has a larger mirror, however the reflection is excellent and stands by itself as a good mirror apart from the incredible craftsmanship of the frame.

It’s worth a few words as to the sizing of this mirror. This is considered the Medium Size of the design at 18”. However, the depth and striking appearance of the mirror draws the eye far more than a larger and less detailed mirror would. So if you want to place the mirror as a centerpiece among other items, the Medium is the right size. If you want a stand alone large piece for a wall, then you might consider the larger version. But truly do not underestimate the impact of this mirror. As with all decorative pieces, think about the impact more than the specific size.

The piece was made by Jose Marcos Luzalde Rosales, who taught himself his craft starting at 17 in his neighbor’s workshop. At the ripe age of 18 he decided to go out on his own and became known (with good reason, as you can see) for his incredible work. He has delighted in preserving Peruvian Woodwork Artistry for 35 years now, and thanks to NOVICA, we can delight in his work as well!

I absolutely adore this mirror. It adds light and depth to the room and has drawn gasps from anyone who has seen it.